Augmented Reality Guidelines. How To Design And Develop AR Apps?

During recent years, numerous expansions and progressions in the field of mobile technology can be seen greatly. With the evolution of iPhones and Android handsets, these smart devices have become an integral part of our everyday life, and we have become so dependent on these that honestly speaking, now sometimes we take it for granted the possibility of staying connected round the clock.

Well, other than the advancements in Mobile Development Industry, new innovative ideas and developments have also brought in some more very interesting aspects of technology. Among these visibilities, Augmented Reality presents itself as a powerful user interface that combines the real world with an outlay of digital information and offers its users a fascinating experience full of amazement. It has been developing very rapidly during the last couple of years and undoubtedly has achieved creating humungous hype among its users.

Coming back to the smartphone technology, and making the connection between the both, mobiles and AR; yes! You have guessed it right what I actually wanted to deliver; the AR technology is now being introduced to your iPhones with the launch of Apple’s ARkit. Google keeps up with ARCore released this year. Therefore, now the app developers can use Apple’s ARkit to come up with truly awesome applications to provide an alluring experience to the users. So, here we are with some simple guidelines that will surely be going to help the developers designing attractive and fruitful applications.

How to Design an Engaging User Interface for Augmented Reality Apps?

Finding, practicing and compiling; we have come up with very interesting pointers that will be extremely helpful in designing an engaging Augmented Reality App.

Utilization of the entire display:

More screen space makes application users more productive. To offer an immersive experience, the screen should not be made messy by excessive controls and information, rather the user should be allowed to interact with the full-screen display and enjoy the magnificent combination of the physical world with the virtual objects.

Exhibit tempting illusions:

The chemistry between the physical environment and the realist virtual objects should be well matched, managed and maintained. Here is how it can be done;

Design detailed 3D figures with lifelike finishing

Often variations in the background or change in the natural lighting create challenges for AR interface. Thus, the designer has to keep in mind different environments and then come up with well-harmonized color scheming.

The approach of re-coloring the virtual as well as the real world can portray pleasing results

Be very particular regarding lighting effects. For best look apply environmental lighting conditions with the virtual objects.

For more real effects casting shadows of virtual objects will turn out to be very fruitful.

Updating visuals along with the change in the position of the camera is very necessary.

Adaptable to restricted environments:

App developers should keep in mind the different locations and settings as the users may take trials in the urge of experimenting under numerous environmental conditions. For instance,

The user may open up the app

where there is either not enough space to move around; or

The user may not find any flat surface in the room.

Therefore, try to anticipate various challenging circumstances and then address the requirements accordingly.

Consider User’s comfort and safety:

Well, of course, your current and potential users are your assets so generating favorable conditions for them should be your top task. Consequently,

In a game, firstly allow your users to get used to the surroundings and then encourage their movement.

Concerning movement, it can be harmful if there are other people and many objects around. So, the app should be created to opt for the safest modes and sudden abrupt movements should be highly discouraged.

Staying in one position, holding up a device for an extended period of time can be hectic. Thus while designing your app, you must keep in mind the way the user is going to hold the device and strive for their comfort.

Induction of Feedback Audio sounds:

How about introducing magical and knobby interacting sound effects for more compelling and delightful experience? Like,

Add a confirmation sound effect when the virtual object comes in contact with the real world.

Background music can also bring in an interesting feel while tackling computer-generated objects.

Offer multiple instructions showing variations:

The instructions to be given to the users could be animated, sounds, text, videos or even the combination of some of them. Taking into consideration even the most inexperienced user, the designer should try to keep them as simple as it can be.

Prefer explaining through visuals than being textual.

If the instructions are text-based, then avoid using confusing terminologies. Instead, come up with friendly communicational terms.

There should be a feedback given to the user reflecting users actions based on the given set of instructions. Therefore, the user will get indicated on anything done wrong.

Enhance the involvement of the users:

Each time when you enter AR, it takes some time at the start to evaluate the surroundings. Therefore it is advisable to show an activity during this process and let the user explore every tidbit of the environs.

Detection of the Surface and Placement of Virtual Objects:

Detecting the right place and placing virtual objects successfully is crucial. Focus on following simple tips to make it easy for your clients.

Inclusion of visual signs is a good way of indication that surface targeting mode is activated

Once the surface is targeted, the color of the signs should be changed to allow a user that the placement of the object is now possible.

Respond promptly when the object is placed.

If the object is not placed correctly within the detected area and range, the user should be intimated immediately.

Virtual Objects and User’s Interaction:

So how the interaction of the users with the virtual objects can be made more attractive and tempting? Here we go,

Allow the users to directly manipulate the objects via touching and dragging. But the designers should keep in mind that direct interaction can be sometimes puzzling and confusing.

Use of standard gestures to move around the objects is necessary and useful.

Conflicting gestures should be avoided

Keep the gestures as simple as possible

Sometimes it is hard to manage the objects as they may are quite small or thin. So, your app must detect the gesture with the assumption that the user wants to affect the subject matter and respond accordingly.

It is also essential to identify that which part of the object is to be moved.

Ensure smooth movement of the objects.

How to handle problems if occur?

Users may face particular problems which they need to overcome. Therefore the user,

Must be allowed to reset the experience if he/she is not satisfied.

Must not be forced to wait for the things to settle down.

Must be facilitated with the possible fixes.

Must be notified with sufficient details where the user goes wrong.

Conclusion:

The usage of the AR App development design tips mentioned above is immensely beneficial which ensure quality, simplicity, ease, and comfort at the user’s end. However, as often said that there is always room for improvement, hence, with the passage of time, new innovative ideas and suggestion will surely bring about several more appropriate and valuable changes.